It’s the start of the New Year, and I pray 2025 will be your best year yet. I pray you will prosper in every area of your life this year. It all starts with your relationship with God. Will you commit to grow spiritually this year? What is the next step for you - accepting Christ, being baptized, joining the church, joining a Community Group, Men’s or Women’s Group, serving at church, reading your Bible, praying regularly, journaling or maybe a mission trip? There are so many ways to grow spiritually this year. Commit to be at church and to grow in your relationship with God. I’m praying for you in 2025! Know God has a great plan and purpose for you!

Advent contrasts the world’s fleeting, self-centered view of love with God’s unconditional, sacrificial love revealed in Scripture. While human love often starts with self and falters under conditions, God’s love, shown through Jesus’ life and sacrifice, is steadfast, holy, and transformative. Mary’s response to God’s love—her surrender and trust—demonstrates how we, too, are called to receive and carry His love with the world. This Advent, we are invited to let go of shallow definitions of love and embrace the deep, redemptive love of God that restores, redeems, and makes us whole.

“The world looks for happiness through self-assertion. The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. 'If a man will let himself be lost for My sake,' Jesus said, 'he will find his true self.” Elizabeth Elliot

What an amazing quotation from Elizabeth Elliot, who by the way is uniquely capable of commenting on where joy comes from as her husband, Jim, was put to death in South America for the sake of the Gospel. Instead of harboring bitterness, she forgave and eventually went back to the very tribe of people who put her husband to death to continue telling them about Jesus. What Elizabeth says, is that we look for happiness by self-assertion. Happiness comes when I get to insert myself into whatever situation I want and I get whatever I want. However, the Christ follower knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. By putting myself last, losing myself, and in doing so I find Jesus and the joy that comes from him alone. May you find joy this Christmas in putting yourself last, and putting Jesus first.

The holiday season can be anything but peaceful. There is so much to do: decorations, shopping, travel, cards, desserts, kids and more. And, yet Jesus came so that we could experience real peace. And, isn’t this what we all want? Peace with God, peace with others and peace in the deepest parts of our own heart. True peace comes in Christ Jesus alone. Will you experience peace in Jesus this year? Jesus is the “Prince of Peace.”

Advent is the waiting - the preparing our hearts for Jesus. We celebrate the first coming of Jesus at Christmas, and we prepare our hearts for His Second Coming. The entire Old Testament was pointing God’s people to our Blessed Hope, Jesus. Jesus came to bring salvation to both the Jews and the Gentiles - to all who are far off from God. There are more prophecies about Jesus’ Second Coming than even His first coming. Our hope is in Jesus today. When Jesus returns He will make all things right. But, until then, we wait in expectation and hope. Come, Lord Jesus!

Happy Thanksgiving! We all have so much for which to be thankful. The third key in Generous Living is to “give thanks in all circumstances.” This doesn’t say “for” all circumstances because we live in a broken world because of sin, but it does say “in” all circumstances because our God is greater. We have a Savior who died for us on a cross so that we could have eternal life with God. We are loved and forever adopted into His family by the grace of Christ. Let’s truly be thankful this Thanksgiving and let’s be generous. God so loved that He gave, and so can we.

Prayer is a continuous, transformative conversation with God that reflects trust and devotion. It encompasses key elements such as being present, speaking, openness, listening, and spiritual growth. Unlike ordinary conversations, prayer involves a dialogue with someone who understands and loves us deeply. A life of prayer leads to holiness. It brings confidence rooted in faith and cultivates generosity by sharpening our awareness of God and compassion for others.

God wants us to experience Generous Living. The most famous verse in the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” John 3:16. Therefore, we are most like God when we love and when we give. The first key to Generous Living is to rejoice always. This is a true mark of spiritual depth and maturity. Jesus was full of joy and there will be rejoicing in Heaven. When we are grateful, we rejoice. Let’s learn to rejoice always as we grow to be like Jesus.